Changeable sign for street-car purposes.



No. 636,732. Patented Nov. 7', I899.

w. I. LARZ ELEBE. "CHANGEABLE SIGN FOR STREET CAR PURPOSES.

(Application filed Dec. 24, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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Patented Nov. 7, I899. W. I. LARZELERE. CHANGEABLE SIGN FOR STREET CARPURPOSES.

(Application filed Dec. 24, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHANGEABLE SIGN FOR STREET-CAR'PURPOSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,732, dated November'7, 1899.

Application filed December 24,1898- Serial. No. 700,264. (No model.) I

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WASHINGTON IRVING LARZELERE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city of Cincinnati, county of Hamilton, State ofOhio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Changeable Signs forStreeteCar Purposes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in signs placed on the roof of acar on the outside and used to show plainly the route the car is goingboth day and night and is primarily an improvement on Patent No. 586,775fora Lantern and illuminated sign for streetcars, dated July 20, 1897,granted to me, and the principal part of which patent is used inconnection with this invention.

The object of this invention is to so construct a sign placed on thecar-roof that the reading matter or lettering may be readily changed bythe motorman or conductor without leaving the car and to so place anindicator that is automatically operated by the same mechanism thatoperates the sign that the motorman or conductor can easily see whatparticular reading the sign on the roof shows. I attain these objects bythe mechanisms' illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a perspective View of the 'whole sign and operatingmechanism affixed to a street car roof. Fig. 2 is a front elevation ofmy sign, showing the operating mechanism, indicator-disk, and themechanism used for operating the indicator-disk simultaneously with thesign above it. Fig. 3 is an end View, and Fig. 4 a plan view, of mysign; Fig. 5, a section on line A A of Fig. 2, showing the peculiarconstruction of the frame, the positions of the winding-rollers, themeans used to protect the sign from Wet or bad Weather by means of thesheet-metal hoods over the winding-rollers, and the two plates of glass,one on each side of the sign. Fig. 6 is the bottom or sight side of theindicator-disk, showing the peculiar irregular spacing made for thelettering of the same to correspond with the sign above and tocompensate for the increasing and decreasing diameter of thewinding-rollers in the sign. Fig. 7 is a section of the end of topwinding-roller, showing the I spring to automatically wind up the signand the means used to give more or less tension to said spring from theoutside of sign-frame.

, Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The letters A A, Fig. 1, show the front or rear end of a street-car indotted lines, on which is fixed by suitable means my improved changeablesign and on the under side of which are the operating mechanisms andindicator-disk J. In connection with this sign I use my improved lanternin the same position and for the same purpose as described by me in myprevious patent, mentioned herewith and a description of which will notbe needed in this specification.

The sign Z is made of cloth or other suitable pliable material, on whichisprinted the lettering required. This is mounted on roll ers X and X,placed at the top and bottom of a peculiarly-constructed frame, the toproller being fitted at one end with the well= known spring-retarding andreverse-winding device so long used on window-curtains, but to which isfixed my arrangement 'to give the spring more orlesstension,as may berequired, from the outside of the frame instead of be ing obliged tolift the roller out of its bearings to do so, as is usual when it isused for window-curtains. I accomplish this by making a long hub R onthe ratchet-wheel B; This hub extends through the side of the frame andto the inside end of which the spring S is fastened. The other end ofthe spring S is fastened to the roller X. Through the long hub of theratchet-wheel is made a hole,

through which extends the shaft P of the roller X, the shaft P beingrigidly secured in the hole relatively to the hub and ratchet. The innerend of the shaft is rotatably seated in the roller, so that it can beturned relatively thereto to give more-or less tension to the spring.The outer end of this shaft is made square for the purpose of puttingthereon a key or wrench to wind the same, when by lifting the pawl R,pivoted to'the frame, more or less tension can be put on the spring S,and by letting the pawl drop into the notch of the ratchet-wheel thistension can be re-' tained and also the added tension caused by theunwinding of the sign-curtain, and this added tension is used not onlyto keep the curtain taut, but to make the reverse wind of thesign-curtain.

Xis the bottom winding-roller for the signcurtain Z, the shaft on oneend of this roller X extending far enough through frame B to receivemiter gear-wheel H, working into miter gear-wheel G on operating-rod E.This operating-rod E is held at one end by a suitable lug or bracket D,fastened to frame B, and extends through theroof of the car. Theoperating-rod E is held in place below by means of another bracket D,fastened to the under side of the car-roof and preferably formed inshape to also retain operating-pin- 1011 F of indicator-disk J. Thispinion F is fixed to operating-rod E and by means of its teeth or cogstransmits the required rotative motion to diskJ to bring to theindicator-finger K the name shown in the sign above, the disk J being solined as to compensate for the increased or decreased diameter of thewinding-roller X as the sign-curtain Z rolls on it and the consequentincrease or decrease of movement by this means.

The curtain holding frame L is so constructed as to be weather-tight andis preferably made as shown. The ends are made with semicircular top andbottom parts, and to them are fitted the four top and bottom cross-railsB, and through the opening between these rails freely passes thesign-curtain Z. Into recesses made in the frame B are the sheets ofglass W, held in place by strips U, thereby giving an unobstructed Viewto the sign in the day or by night when the lantern is used to throwlight on the rear of the sign. The sheets of glass also keep out rain,dust, or snow and prevent vibration or tearing of the sign by winds. Onthe top and bottom of the frame B and extending longitudinally acrossthe frame B are covers T and T, p eferably made of sheet tin or iron andso fastened to the frame B as to keep out all rain, moisture, or dustthat might injure the sign-curtain or its rollers.

I mount the curtain-holding frame B at the front or rear end of thecar-roof, disconnected from the interior of the car, so as to bring thelettering to the most advantageous position for observation by theprobable passenger and that it may be seen at a great distance, butconstructed and arranged to be capable of illumination from the raysprojected from the interior of the car, as described, so as to make thelettering plainly visible at night. For this purpose the curtain is madeof translucent flexible material and provided with lettering which willbe visible during the day as well as during the night when the rays oflight are projected through the curtain and the glass at either sidethereof.

The lower end of operating-rod E is formed into suitable shape to formcrank-handle E, and connected to it by suitable projection isspring-handle L, to the upper end of which is fastened by a pin thestop-rod N, the end of which works into the notches formed in theratchet-plate O. This plate 0 is securely fastened from rotation to thebracket D. The object attained by this mechanism is that by grasping thecrank-handle E and the springhandle L together the stop-rod N is movedout of connection with notched ratchet-plate O, and by turning the crankthe sign-curtain will be wound onto roller X, or, to turn the reverseway, the sign-curtain will by means of the spring S be wound onto rollerX, when by releasing crank-handle E, and consequently spring-handle L,the stop-rod N will be forced by the action of the spring M to catchinto a notch in ratchet-plate 0, thereby I stopping the rotation of theoperating-rod E and securely holding sign-curtain and indicator-disk inthe required position to show the sign wanted in the frame B.

The lettering of the sign appears above the roof of the car out of theview of the motorman or other manipulator of the signs, the sign facingin the same direction that the motorman faces when operating the car. Itherefore make convenient connection, as already described, between therollers for winding up the sign-curtain, and an indicator and operatingdevice located in a protected position in the motormans compartmentwithin convenient View and easy reach of the motorman for changing thevarious signs on the sign-curtain with relation to the sight, so thatthe motor man may without changing his position roll or nnroll thesign-curtain to either a greater or less extent, so as to bring anydesired name or figure to View at the sight of the signs, the exposedpoint beingindicated to the motorman on the indicatordisk without changeof his position.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a flexible sign-curtain, rolling on rollers placedtop and bottom of same, located out of manual reach of the operator, oneof the rollers operated by suitable mechanism from crank-handle withinmanual reach of the operator, the other roller operated by springmechanism, and a rotatable irregularly-spaced indicator adjacent to theposition of the operator operated by suitable gearing from thecrank-handle shaft, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a flexible sign-cur- ICC IIO

tain, rolling on rollers placed top and bottom of same, located out ofmanual reach of the operator, one of the rollers operated by suitablemechanism from the crank-handle within manual reach of the operator, theother roller operated by spring mechanism, and a rotatableirregularly-spaced indicator-adjacent to the position of the operatoroperated by suitable gearing from the crank-handle shaft, and areleasable stop for positively arresting the rotation of the indicatorat any point in its revolution desired, operated from the crankhandleposition, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a casestationarily secured to the outside of acar, a flexible signcurtain, a roller mounted in the top and a rollermounted in the bottom of the case and having the ends of thesign-curtain secured thereto respectively, with the curtain rolled aboutand spanned between the rollers, a sheet of glass or similar device oneach side of the spanned portion of the curtain, spring mechanism actingto roll the curtain about one of the rollers, a shaft extending to theoperatorscompartment and operating to rotate the other roller againstthe tension of the spring under positive control of the operator for anychange in the sign forward or backward as desired, a rotatable indicatorin the operators compartment simultaneously operated with the latterroller, names on the sign-curtain and corresponding names for theindicator, the names being relatively spaced for the increasing ordiminishing diameter of the rollers, with a stop for the shaft underpositive control of the operator from his compartment to arrest therotation of the roller at regular orirregular intervals, substantiallyas described.

4. The combination of a stationary case, stationarily attached to theoutside of the roof of a car and disconnected from the interior of thecar, a. sign-curtain roller rotatably mounted in the top and asign-curtain roller rot-atably mounted in the bottom of the case, aflexible sign-curtain attached at its ends to the rollers respectively,a sheet of glass or similar device mounted in each side of the case andon each side of the sign -curtain and constructed and arranged forpermitting the passage of rays of light therethrough and through thecurtain, spring-operating'mechanism connecting with one of the rollers,and manuallyoperative mechanism connecting with the other and operatingagainst the continuing tension of the spring and constructed andarranged for passing the flexible sign-curtain between the sheets ofglass under the positive control of the operator for any change in thesign forward or backward as desired, and communicating withthe'operators compartment under the car-roof, and a positive stopmechanism in the operators compartment under the direct control ofthe-operator for positively arresting the passage of the signcurtain atregular or irregular intervals against the tension of thespring,substantially as described.

5. The combination of a stationary case, stationarily attached to theoutside of the roof of a street-car near its end and disconnected fromthe interior of the car, a sign'curtain roller rotatably mounted in thetop and a signcurtain roller rotatably mounted in the bottom of thecase, a flexible sign-curtain rolling on and attached at its ends to therollers respectively and spanned between them, signs on the curtain, asheet of glass or similar device mounted in each side of the case and oneach side of the spanned portion of the signcurtain to bring theflexible sign-curtain and the sheet of glass on either side thereof injuxtaposition, and constructed and arranged for exposing the sign on thecurtain through the forward sheet of glass during the daytime andpermitting the rays of light from the interior of the car to penetratethe sign-curtain and both the sheets of glass at night to expose thesign on the curtain, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a stationary case, stationarily attached to a car,a spring-operated roller and a manually-operated roller journaled in thecase, with the shaft E connecting with the manually-operated roller, aflexible sign-curtain rolling on and attached at its ends to the rollersand spanned between the same, an opening in the case for bringing thesigns on the curtain to View, abearing for the operating-shaft on thecase and on the car respectively, the rotatable indicator-disk Joperated by the shaft, names or figures on the signcurtain andcorresponding names or figures on the indicator-disk irregularly spacedto compensate for the increasing or decreasing diameter of themanually-operated roll as the curtain is wound or unwound, and anindex-finger for the indicator-disk to indicate on the disk the namewhich appears to view in the case, substantially as described.

7. The combination of a stationary case, stationarily attached to a car,a spring-operated roller and a manually-operated roller journaled in thecase, with the shaft E connecting with the manually-operated roller, aflexible sign-curtain attached at its ends to the rollers and arrangedto roll thereon and spanned between the same, an opening in the case forbringing the signs on the curtain to View, bearings for theoperating-shaft on the case and on the car respectively, the rotatableindicator disk J operated from the shaft, names or figures on thesign-curtain, and cor* responding names or figures on the indicator diskirregularly spaced to compensate for the increasing or decreasingdiameter of the manuallyoperated roller as the curtain is wound orunwound, an index-finger for the indicator-disk to indicate on the diskthe name which appears to view in the case, the crank-handle E, thestationary ratchet-plate O, and the stop-rod N connecting therewith andoperated from the spring-handle L, constructed and arrangedsubstantially as and for the purpose specified.

,8. The combination of a flexible sign-curtain, with a frame having itstwo ends formed of single pieces of material, and its top and bottomrails formed of two separate pieces of material, through the opening ofwhich the sign-curtain passes, a plate-glass on each side of saidsign-curtain, a spring-operated roller at the top and a power-operatedroller at the "bottom to which the curtain is secured, sheet elude therain for use on outside roof of the car in all weathers, both day andnight, and suitable operating mechanism extending from thepower-operated roller, and stop mechanism therefor,as hcrei n set forthand described.

9. The combination of a frame, revolving curtain-rollers one rolleroperated by crank mechanism, and one set in motion by a springpower, theratchet R for the spring-operated roller having a long hubR rotatablymonn ted in the side oii the frame, the spring S, attached at one end tothe hub and at its other to the roller, and the shaft P seatedrotatablyin the

